Assessment of intra-articular volume of the wrist: a comparative study between CT-arthrography and dissection

The aim of this study was to compare the intra-articular volumes of the wrist's joint measured by CT-arthrography and by dissection on ten cadavers. A good correlation was found between CT-arthrography and dissection in the assessment of the intra-articular volume of both wrist joints. A volume of 1.34 (+/-0.46) milliliter and 0.97 (+/-0.32) milliliter were found by Ct-arthrography for the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints, respectively. Dissection of the same wrists gives a volume of 1.24 (+/-0.33) and 0.90 (+/-0.21) for the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints, respectively. The knowledge of normal wrist-joint volume is a major prerequisite to evaluate carpal instability without ligaments' tears. We believe that CT-arthrography could be helpful in evaluating patients with suspected carpal instability.